Hi, I just got a 82 Aspencade 1100 so I am still getting use to it. When I am taking off and I am shifting gears up at like 2000 rpm's (approx) it shifts perfectly but I can definitely hear the gears as in a clunk. Today I started shifting with a little bit higher rpms ( around 3500 approx) and it is so smooth and quiet that I can hardly even feel it or hear it. To me that sounds like where i want to be at those rpm's to shift up (3000 to 4000 ) but also to me that seems a bit high as it red lines at 8000 rpm. Again I am just getting use to my bike and I was wondering what you guys shift at? I have had a dozen bikes on my life but not a big Goldwing so I could use your expertise....Thanks in advance

Wow over 3,000. I am so not use to do that but I will make it work. I spent all day yesterday driving around in the city taking off from a stop and then gearing up and yes the bike loves shifting smoothly at 3,000 to 4,500 rpms. Sometimes, I would be shifting up from say 3rd to 4th and after being in 4th for like a second or two it would then pop out of 4th and go back to 3rd and the rpm's would jump up. Is that me not clicking the shifter good enough or do you think the trani or a combo? Thanks again for your help!

I shift my '78 GL1000 at 3500 to 4000 rpm when accelerating at a moderate rate. And if I'm accelerating fairly aggressively, such as coming off a ramp to highway speed, 5000 rpm is just right for me. Occasionally, if I have to really get on it, to get out of everybody's way, 6000 rpm. But that's very rarely the case. My Wing is not as young as it used to be, so I treat it with respect. But at the same time I do like to exercise it. I beleive that any efficient, very well designed engine, like the GL1000 for instance, has no problem performing at a high level. So why not let it?

Sometimes, I would be shifting up from say 3rd to 4th and after being in 4th for like a second or two it would then pop out of 4th and go back to 3rd and the rpm's would jump up. Is that me not clicking the shifter good enough or do you think the trani or a combo? Thanks again for your help!

Does this happen regardless of engine revs when you change gear, or how much throttle you apply after releasing the clutch lever?.
How long has this been happening?.
What is the mileage?
The fact that it is happening a second or two after changing gear, tells me it may have a problem with worn gear selector mechanism, the drum, forks, gears, or all 3.

Sometimes, I would be shifting up from say 3rd to 4th and after being in 4th for like a second or two it would then pop out of 4th and go back to 3rd and the rpm's would jump up. Is that me not clicking the shifter good enough or do you think the trani or a combo? Thanks again for your help!

Does this happen regardless of engine revs when you change gear, or how much throttle you apply after releasing the clutch lever?.
How long has this been happening?.
What is the mileage?
The fact that it is happening a second or two after changing gear, tells me it may have a problem with worn gear selector mechanism, the drum, forks, gears, or all 3.

Big Blue could very well be right in what he says. If it's just happening, "sometimes" though, before you go deep into clutch and transmission mechanism surgery, why not just get into the habit of riding it more comfortably. And while you're doing that, focus on making your shifts in a very positive manner. After doing that for a while, if you're still having problems, go to plan B.

Big Blue could very well be right in what he says. If it's just happening, "sometimes" though, before you go deep into clutch and transmission mechanism surgery, why not just get into the habit of riding it more comfortably. And while you're doing that, focus on making your shifts in a very positive manner. After doing that for a while, if you're still having problems, go to plan B.

Just an idea.....................Dave

That is what I should have said Dave

Tony, it will not matter how you change gear, once worn enough to jump, it is progressive, each time it jumps the wear gets worse. Live with it for as long as you can. future is looking at it as a dog with fleas, exchanging it for a different dog with different fleas, or turn it into a nice doggy. Depends upon if you are a 'works so I ride it' rider, or 'want bit of that, some of that, plenty of that, most of that, and all of that' rider.

Thanks for your help guys... okay so for sure the goldwings are big beasts and they take a lot of rpm's to get going and accelerate. For sure I will rev up to 3,000 to 4,500. As far as the gears jumping out part I think it is as much of me not being use to the bike and the power and shifting. The bike only has 115,000 kliks or 70,000 miles on it so its not a lot. It also usually happens when I am running it in "quick shift or sporty" mode which leads me to believe that I may have not just shifted it right. Then to mess stuff even lore (lol) I changed my footwear from my normal shoes to another pair which are a lot bigger and maybe messing up exactly what I am doing. So for the next while I will rev a bit higher and concentrate on making some good gear changes and then report back and let you guys know.

Dam straight Dave. Just because you said that " you need to ride more" I just planned a couple day trip from Saskatchewan to Alberta just for the hell of it:) It will only be like a 1,000 kliks but it will be the first little trip that I took on my wing so we'll see how it goes.

I now have just under 12k miles on my first and only Wing, a 2016 model. I've had a few bikes over the years, but have still been adjusting my shift points over this last year. I thought I have been doing okay since the mechanics that have done my services so far have said everything seems fine and sounds good. However, even before seeing this thread I began changing my shift point again a few weeks ago when up-shifting. I hadn't really paid attention to exactly what the rpms were and was only doing it by feel, but a few weeks ago I began increasing those rpms when up-shifting. Today I paid attention to where they were at and found them to be about 2500 most of the time and as low as 1800-2000 when going slower and accelerating at a leisurely pace. When accelerating more rapidly the rpm shift point naturally increases to as much or greater than 3k.

I think these past few weeks have been noticeably smoother with less transmission or whatever it is noise during and immediately after shifting.

I am not and have never been a LEO. My avatar is in honor of my friend, Dallas Police Sargent Michael Smith, who was murdered along with four other officers in Dallas on 7.7.2016.

If your bike is jumping out of gear after a shift, CHECK the gearshift lever -- I suspect it may be hitting something, such as the exhaust pipe or frame. This situation can be agravated if the lever is not attached tightly; if the lever wobbles slightly even after it is tightened, then remove it and sgueeze the top & bottom together in a vise so the opening clamps down tighter on the shaft when the bolt is tightened.

Back to shift RPM... I usually shift at higher RPMs -- including redline once or twice a month (provided the engine is up to temp). When I was young, the old lady who sold me her Oldsmobile told me she "never lets grass grow under her tires." It occurred to me that perhaps I too should not waste time when I have somewhere to go! In town, it is not rare for me to hit 4000+ RPM in 1st gear and then shift to straight to 3rd or 4th to maintain my speed at the enforced limit. One RPM that I don't sit at very long is 2200, because my GL1200 engine has a vibration at that RPM.

On my GL1000 I'd change gear around 3k to 3.5k revs for everyday riding. To have proper fun though you want to stay in the 5k - 6k area. Careful if you head into that territory for the first time though; it's a very different beast riding like that...